Folding machine



June 30, 1931. J w, ANTHONY 1,811,871

FOLDING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l /0 4g /5 I lm I ll D G 52 JO 3% 2 r I g June 30, 1931. J w, ANTHONY I 1,811,871

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 192860 2 Sheets-Shed. 2

Patented June 30, 1931 T OFFLCE JOSEPH W. .ANTHON'Y, F LYNN,MASSACHUSETTS FOLDING MACHINE Application filed December 13, 1928.Serial No. 325,826.

This invention relates tomachines and de vices for folding over themarginal edges and corners of book covers and the like.

A book cover folding machine usually has 6 extensible and retractiblefold defining elements which are extended over the cover to define theline of fold and extensible and retractible side and corner foldingelements or wipers which are arranged to move over the fold definingelements to fold over the material of the cover at the sides and thecorners (onto the fold defining elements, which elements are thenretracted so .that the folded over margin of the edge of the cover canbe pressed onto and secured to the body of the cover. I

An object of the present invention is the elimination of the separatecorner Wipers and the provision of wipers or folding elements which atone operation effect the folding of the sides and the corners of thecover, thereby shortening the time required for the complete foldingoperation and dispensing with a number of parts heretofore required forthe separatefolding of the corners and in general simplifying thefolding machine and the process.

Briefly, the folding elements embodying my invention consists of fourstraight wipers or plates which are arranged in parallelograin form inpractical contact with each other whereby todefine a practicallycontinuous folding edge which bounds a rectangular folding space, eachplate being inside one adjacent plate and outside theother adjacentplate. The platesare movable simultaneously inwardly and outwardly ofsaid folding space .and also laterally thereof while preserving theaforesaid relation of the plates, that il'S,OllG plate moves inwardlyand-towards a corner :and the adjacent plate moves inwardly and aavayfrom the same corner, rthus acting to gather the material at the :cornerinto pleats which are folded over onto the -15 body o'f the blanks. Thusatone operation of the plates both thesides and corners of'the blank arefolded over. Such an. arrangement of foldingelements constitutes afurther object of the invention.

150 Another ob'j ect of theinventionis generally to improve upon foldingmethods and apparatus.

Fig. 1 is a. plan view of the base of a fold ing machine embodying thepresent invention. I

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the folding elements and theframe removed to show the reciproca'ble cam ring for operating thefolding elements.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the die frame of Fig. 1 with the Wipersremoved.

Fig. 4: is a plan detail showing one end of the folding elements andalso showing the fold defining elements.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional elevation taken along lineG-ti of Fig. 4,and illustrating the folding elements of the machine at the start of thefolding operation, the fold-defining elements or forming plates beingextende i i i Fig. 7 is a detail similar to Fig; 6 but with the marginaledge of the cover folded over the forming plates.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the forming plates retractedand the presser head withdrawn.

Fi '9 is a modified construction of one of the wipers.

Fig. 10 is a plan View of the folding ele ments or wipers having theround cornerconstruction illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan'viewof asimpliiied conq struotion for operating thewipers.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a' book cover folded in accordance withthis invention.

Fig. 18 is a sectional" detail taken along line 13-1301? Fig. 1. I

The folding machine embodying the present invention is constructedmainly as shown in my Patent No. 1,657,911, issued January 81, 1928, towhich reference is made for the construction of such elements as areunneces- 'sary for an understanding of the present invention and whichare not herein illustrated.

The folding machine of the aforesaid patent and of the present inventionincludes a bed 10, Figs. 1 and 2, which has uprights l2 rising therefromthat are provided with grooves let in the short upper faces. Paralleldie bars 16 and 18 are disposed above and are adjustably connected withsaid uprights by blocks 20 which are slidable in said grooves ll. Saidbars 16 and 18 can be moved inwardly and outwardly away from each otherto vary the folding space therebetween and can be secured fixedly to anyset position.

End die bars 22 and 2 1-, see Figs. 1 and 3, are located beneath saidbars 16 and 18 and can be clamped thereto in any adjusted positionwhereby also to vary the size of the folding space. Filler blocks 23 and26 are carried by both of said bars 22 and 24: between said bars 16 and18 and are terminated substantially flush with the upper faces of saidlatter bars.

Corner blocks 28, two of which are shown in Fig. 3, are located in thecorners of the die frame and have curved inner faces 30 which define theround cornersto be folded. The die frame thus bounds a rectangularspace, the dimensions of which can be varied and in which all sides andcorners of the book cover or blank are adapted to be folded at oneoperation.

A cover or blank supporting table 32, see Figs. 1, 3 and 6, is locatedwithin the folding space and is yieldingly supported on springs 34; sothat it can move downwardly during the folding operation. A presser head36, see Figs. l and 6, is located above the die frame anc. the table 32and is movabl into is folding space by mechanism not herein necessary toillustrate. The nresser head carries a presser plate 38 which is adaptedto clamp the book cover onto the table 32 during the folding operation.T he presser head also carries extensible and retract-ibis fold definingelements or fo ming plates .0, see 4: and 6, which are disposed immediateiy above the presser plate and can be extended beyond the margin ofthe presser plate 38 as shown in. 6 to define a substantially continuousline of fold and to receive the folded over edge of the book cover. 7

The construction so far described is essentially as shown in my aboT-renamed p atent.

One form of book cover that is well adapted to be operated on by thepresent invention is illustrated in 12 and consists of a body a composedof flexible material having a continuous margin or edge tiat is foldedover and is secured adhesively to the body a or to the relatively stiffi111? f c. The corners (Z are round.

In accordance with this invention the folding elements which fold overthe material at the margin Z) of the cover d the corners (Z consist offlat plates I 4:6 and 18, Fig 1, which plates are located above and arecarried by the bars of the die frame and are arranged to wipe thematerial of the cover at the edges and at the corners over the extendedforming plates. The end 14 of the wiper 4:4: lies within and practicallyabuts against or is disposed in close proximity to the inner edge 12?)of the wiper The end 46a of the wiper #16 is similiarly located 1 withrcspec to the inner edge ll?) of the into and out of the folding space,or to contract and expand the parallelogram in such a way as to preservethe aforesaid relation between the wipers. The means provided is such asduring the folding over of the ma-- terial to move the wiper e2 inwardlyand toward the left, the wiper 14: inwardly and downwa dly, the wiper 46inwardly and to the right, and the wiper 1S upwardly and to the left.That is. one wiper, as the wiper l2, is moved inwardly and toward theupper left hand corner of the cover, and the adjacent wiper, as thewiper 1%, is moved inwardly and away from said corner. It will beapparent that with such motion of the wiper the wipers preserve theirillustrated relation while moving inwardly and onwardly of the foldingspace. As a result of such movement of the wipers, the material at theside edges of the blank is folded over and he material at the corners isgathered into smooth pleat-s which are also folded over.

The wlpers are supported on pairs of blocks 50 which are slidablyreceived in diagonally inclined dove-tailed slots 52 formed in the:

at the same angle with :espect to their re-v spective die-bars so thatthe wipers are caused to move inwardly and outwardly of the foldingspace without separating from each other. i

The wipers are operated by independent slide blocks 58 which areslidable in dovetailed grooves 60 formed in the upper faces of the diebars between the inclined grooves 52. Said slide blocks are providedwith up standing cam pins 62 which are received in longitudinallyelongated cam slots 64; of the wipers, and serve to reciprocate saidwipers when said blocks are reciprocated. Said slide blocks 58 areconnected by rigid bars 65, see especially Fig. 6, with slide blocks 66which are located beneath the die frame and are slidable in ways 68 andhave downward projections 70 at their inner ends which are operable incam slots 72 of a reciprocatory cam ring 74 WfllOll ring is reciprocatedby.

- are retracted as illustrated in Fig. 6. The

cover is placed on the table 32 with the pressor head 00 elevated abovethe table free from the cover and with the forming plates extended. Thepresser head is then 'moved downwardly to press and hold the cover ontothe table and to depress the table with the cover downwardly within thefolding space of the die frame and into some position as shown in Fig.6, the margin of the cover being upturned by engagement with the frameand wipers. The wipers are then moved inwardly to fold the margin 5 ofthe cover over upon the forming plates 40 as shown in Fig. 7. Theforming plates are then retracted and the presser head is moved upwardlyaway from the cover. The table is then forced up to press the folded marin against the under faces of the wipers to cause the margin to adhereto the body of the cover. The wipers are then retracted and the tablemoves into a further elevated position to carry the Hoover above the die4 frame and the folded cover is therefore removed. The dotted lines Fig.4 illustrate the innermost position of the wipers. The table 32 iscarried by a table support 32a, see Fig. 2, which has depending lugs 325that are disposed at spaced intervals about the cam ring 74 and havepins 320 that are located in cam slots 32d of said ring whereby toeffect the above described movements of the table, all as described inmy above named p tent.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 9

and 10 each wiper has an inset plate 7 8 one end which has an arcuaieedge to facilitate the necessity for the separate corner wipers andtheir operatingv mechanisms heretofore employed and permits the sidesand the corners of the cover to be folded over simultaneously instead ofin two successive steps as was the practice heretofore. The constructionis also such that various sizes of book covers can befolded with thesame wipers whereas heretofore it was necessary to employ a differentset of side wipers for each different size of cover.

I claim: v a 1. In a folding machine, folding elements for folding overmaterial at the sides and at the included-corner of a blank, consistingof two angularly related plates having inner folding edges, with the endof one plate confronting the inner edge of the other plate, and means toreciprocate said plates over the edges of the material while preservingtheir aforesaid relation.

2. In a. folding machine, folding elements for folding over material atthe sides and at the included corner of a blank, consisting-of twoangularly related plates having inner folding edges, with the end of oneplate confronting the inner edge of the other plate, and means toreciprocate said plate in directions which are inclined with respect toboth plates so as to preserve unchanged the spacing of the plates withrespect to each other.

3. In a folding machine, folding elements arranged to fold over thematerial at the sides and also at the included corner of a blankconsisting of a pairof folding plates which bound a folding space andhave innor folding edges, the end of one plate closely confrontingtheinner folding edgev of the other plate and means to move said platessimultaneously inwardly of and around the folding space. a

4;. In a fol'ding ma'chine,folding elements arranged to-fold all edgesand the included corners of a blank consisting of'four foldin-g plateshaving inner edges whichb'ound a folding space, and means to. move allof said plates simultaneously inwardly and also simultaneously outwardlyof the folding space at angles inclined with respect to the lengths ofsuch plates.

5. In a folding machine, folding elements operable to fold over theedges of a blank consisting of separate plates which are angularlyrelated with respect to each other, and'ineans to reciprocate saidplates and also to move them laterally different directions at the sametime.

'6. In a folding machine folding elements operable to fold over thematerial at the sides and also at the-included corner of a blankconsisting of angularly'related plates which confront each other,andlmeans to move said plates inwardly over the material and alsolaterally thereover while preserving the aforesaidrelation between saidplates.

7. In a: folding machine, means definln-g a folding :space, ;a slideblock movable at an inclination with respect to said folding space, afolding plate carried by said slide block and guided thereby formovements inward and also laterally of said folding space, and means toreciprocate said folding plate.

8. In a folding machine, folding elements consisting of plates which aremovable in wardly and outwardly of a folding space to fold over themarginal portion of a blank, said plates having inner folding edgeswhich are inclined, and the end of one folding plate having an inclinedend face which overlies the inner folding edge of an adjacent foldingplate.

9. In a. folding machine, angularly related folding plates movableinwardly and out wardly of a folding space, slide blocks carrying saidfolding plates guided for movement in directions which are inclined withrespect to said folding space, and reciprocating means for said plateswhich are guided for movement at an angle to the movement of said slideblocks and which have pin and slot connections therewith.

10. In a folding machine, a folding plate having a straight folding edgefor the major portion of the length of the plate and a curved foldingedge at the end of the plate for folding over the material at the roundcorner of a blank.

11. In a folding machine, four folding plates bounding a rectangularfolding space, said plates being reciprocable along and also laterallyof said space, the end of one plate closely confronting the inner edgeof an adjacent plate, the confronting ends of said plates having arcuateinner folding edges for folding the material at the round corners of ablank.

12. In a folding machine, folding elements consisting of plates whichdefine a folding space and are reciprocable into and out of said space,the end of one plate closely confronting the inner folding edge of anadja cent plate, and means whereby said plates can be moved into variouspositions with respect to the folding space while preserving theiraforesaid relation for the folding of blanks of various dimensions, andmeans for reciprocating said plates inwardly and out of the foldingspace while preserving the aforesaid relation between them.

13. In a folding machine, a pair of angularly related folding plates,the end of one plate being contiguous with the side edge of the otherplate whereby to provide a substantially continuous folding line betweensaid plates and means to reciprocate said plates inwardly and out of thefolding space while preserving the aforesaid relation therebetween.

14. In a folding machine, a pair of angularly related folding plates,the end of one plate being contiguous with the side edge of the otherplate whereby to. provide a substantially continuous folding linebetween said plates, said plates being adjustable outwardly and inwardlyof the folding space whereby to condition them for folding blanks ofvarious dimensions, and means to reciprocate said plates inwardly andoutwardly of said folding space and also laterally thereof whilepreserving the aforesaid relation between said plates.

15. A folding machine having folded elements comprising four foldingplates that are arranged at right angles wit-h respect to each other anddefine a rectangular folding space, the end of each plate being abuttedagainst the folding edge of the adjacent plate and means to reciprocatesaid plates in wardly and outwardly of the folding space and alsolaterally. I

16. A folding machine having folding elements comprising fourseparately-movable folding plates that are arranged at right angles withrespect to each other and define a rectangular folding space, the endsof said plates being in confronting relation, means to reciprocate saidplates inwardly and outtqzlirdly of the folding space and also latera y.

17. In a folding machine adapted to fold over the material at the edgesand corners of a blank, folding plates which are adapted to be movedover the edges of a blank to fold over the material thereat, said platesbeing angularly related to each other and between them presenting apractically continuous fold-defining edge, whereby. to fold over thematerial at both the sides and the included corner of the blank, saidplates being one inside and one outside the other, both plates beingsimultaneously movable inwardly over and also laterally of the blank,the lateral movements of the plates being such that they maintain theirpractically continuous folddefining edge at all times.

18. In a folding machine adapted to fold over the material at the edgesand corners of f a blank, folding plates which are adapted to be movedover the edges of a blank to fold over the material thereat, said platesbeing angularly related to each other and between them presenting apractically continuous fold-defining edge, whereby to fold over thematerial at both the sides and the included corner of the blank, andmeans to guide said plates for movement inwardly and outwardly over theblank and also to guide one lated contiguous folding plates bounding alot) folding space and presenting between them a practically continuousfolding edge, and means to move said plates simultaneously into and alsocircumferentially of the folding space while preserving the aforesaidrelation between them.

21. In a folding machine, angularly related contiguous folding platesbounding a folding space and presenting between them a practicallycontinuous folding edge, and means to move said plates simultaneouslyinto the folding space and one plate toward and the other away from theangle between said plates while preserving the aforesaid relationbetween them.

22. In a folding machine adapted to fold over the material at all sidesand corners of a rectangular blank, folding plates arranged inparallelogram form one inside and one outside the other and presentingbetween them a practically continuous fold-defining edge, and means tomove said plates inwardly and outwardly over the blank while preservingtheir aforesaid relation.

23. In a folding machine adapted to fold over the material at all sidesand corners of a rectangular blank, folding elements forminga closedparallelogram which bounds a folding space, said closed parallelogrambeing expansible and contractile to vary the dimensions of said foldingspace, and said folding elements being movable inwardly and outwardly ofsaid folding space while maintaining said parallelogram closed.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH W. ANTHONY.

